ISLAMABAD: Thirteen-year-old Asim* was quieter than usual when he returned to his home in Jhelum from a motorcycle mechanic’s workshop after completing his first day as a chotu – a term widely used for apprentices. His father, a rickshaw driver, noticed but casually asked about his day at his new workplace while having dinner. “I will never go back to that shop again,” said Asim, an eighth-grade dropout, in a voice barely above a whisper.
Child Rights in Focus
It is deeply unfortunate that millions of Pakistani children endure poverty and are forced into labor, a harsh reality that has persisted for years. These children work in factories due to dire economic conditions, often in extreme heat without basic rights like food or education. Imagine a child carrying heavy bricks under the scorching sun without shelter or water. Many suffer abuse, even death, at the hands of their employers. We need child labor
The burden of summer vacation fees is too much for low-income families, making it difficult for parents who are struggling to make ends meet. Despite the absence of educational activities during vacations, parents are still required to pay a fee for those months as well, exacerbating their financial hardships. This is an unfair and unnecessary burden imposed by private-sector schools on underprivileged parents. It is imperative for the government to acknowledge this pressing issue
The education system of Pakistan is becoming worse each day. The literacy rate of the country determines its success. The more educated the people, the more the country will progress. If Pakistan wants to progress, it must pay more attention to its educational system. Most schools don’t pay much attention to the primary level, unaware that it creates the base of a student’s knowledge. On the contrary, extensive stress is put into higher levels
CHARSADDA: Sudais Medical Centre presents a ray of hope for the hearing-impaired children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as such children are being operated upon successfully with cochlear implant surgery and now they can live a normal life with all the abilities of hearing and speaking. Talking to media persons at the SMC, chief executive officer (CEO) Asmatullah Asar said that cochlear implants were not only the most advanced but also the most expensive treatment for
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on 11 July 2024 directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to assist the police in ascertaining the whereabouts of two children of the owner of a famous eatery whom he took abroad without the consent of their mother. The court also ordered to block his computerized national identity card (CNIC). IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan issued the order on a petition filed by the first wife of
LAHORE: Safe City Virtual Women Police Station apprehended a suspect near Data Darbar who was harassing a girl on a bus. A woman filed a harassment complaint through the Virtual Women Police Station. The woman provided the location of the bus to the Virtual Women Police Station. Safe City tracked the bus through cameras and dispatched the police to the next stop. Upon reaching the bus stop, the suspect was arrested upon the woman’s
LAHORE: Public schools have outperformed their private counterparts in the 2024 matriculation examinations across Punjab. A total of 1.2 million students appeared for the annual examination, with 929,238 passing, yielding a pass percentage of 75.88. In detail, 655,867 regular candidates from public schools participated in the science group, and 101,249 in the humanities group, compared to 163,203 candidates in science and 37,648 in the humanities group from private schools. Among regular candidates in the
LAHORE: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), Lahore, claims to have busted an international drug trafficking ring allegedly involved in supplying narcotics to elite-class youngsters across Punjab and smuggling the contraband abroad. CIA officials, claiming recovery of the “largest-ever quantity of cocaine,” say the arrested ringleader and the gang’s key members have dual nationalities. Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Lahore CIA DIG Imran Kishwar said the network was “very desperate, dangerous, and well-connected.”
Watch the heartfelt story of a mother selling flowers with her children at a traffic signal. Keeping kids out of school traps them in a cycle of poverty. Let’s break the cycle—support education for all!
Watch Basit’s story and learn the critical role of open communication between children and parents to combat child sexual abuse. Let’s empower our kids to speak up and stay safe! Remember, if you suspect abuse, it’s vital to report it. Report abuse: Call 1099 or 1121 immediately
Imagine a world where childhood dreams are replaced by labour. Moneeb’s story highlights the plight of many children forced into work due to economic hardships Let’s hold our community accountable and discourage hiring children for labour. Report such cases to 1099 or 1121!